Innovation
trinamiX is all about innovative sensing technologies
Since 2015, BASF has had its own start-up, trinamiX GmbH. Founded by a team of researchers developing solar cells. Driven by the idea of a novel 3D sensing technology.
Dr. Ingmar Bruder, then a physicist at BASF, was studying organic solar cells in 2010. These cells used organic compounds instead of crystalline silicon. The colorants in these compounds converted sunlight to electrical energy. Some of the photovoltaic cells exhibited unexpected behavior, however: Despite the amount of light being increased, they did not produce the corresponding additional amount of electricity. The effect was absolutely minimal, yet the team wanted to understand the source of this behavior. This is when the team first had the idea of putting this material property to good use: for 3D measurement. The idea was that distances could be “measured” from specific beam profiles.
Bruder could not get this idea out of his head and together with a handful of enthused people he worked on developing a prototype 3D camera: it weighed over 100 kilograms, but it worked perfectly. The first 3D camera based on the new measuring concept was born, enabling 3D vision with only one eye.
The BASF pioneers are also proud that a comprehensive patent for the technology was issued in 2015. At almost the exact same time, BASF founded its wholly owned subsidiary with its headquarters in Ludwigshafen. In 2016, trinamiX integrated a new business area: infrared sensing. Please read here how this happened and what makes the infrared detector Hertzstück™ so special.
Today, the company has grown to employ more than 140 people: Engineers, electronics experts, IT specialists. All are part of the creative team, that constantly develops further innovations. In the area of 3D imaging, the team succeeded in turning a standard camera and light projector into a robust and powerful imaging system with a novel set of features that enabling smart interaction between humans and machine. It will also make facial authentciation for smartphones or mobile payment easier and more secure.
